Telegraph-code tape punch



April 1935- I L. D. WALDEN TELEGRAPH CODE TAPE PUNCH Filed Feb. 1, 1935 INVENTOR, L.,D Wdlden Patented Apr. 23, 1935 A NT orFicE I 1,998,946 TELEGRAPH-CODE TAPE PUNCH Lester D. Walden,

Application February 19 Glaims.

This invention is a tape punching machine of the class used for the preparation of telegraphic code transmission tape.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type which is capable of rapidly and practically punching holes of different length in the tape for spelling a code word and to effect spacing between code words along the tape.

A further object is to effect the automatic feed of the tape by means under control of the punching means and provide means to effect the tape feed independently of the punch means for spacing code words punched in the tape.

An additional object is to provide punching means including a single punch member operative to form either a short or small aperture representative of a dot in the code and also, selectively, to form a long or large aperture for the dash sign of the code. And in this connection an object is to provide for the utilization of the same punch member to control tape feeding means.

More specifically, an object is to provide means to cut a tongue of desired length in the tape and to fold the tongue back against one face of the tape to define a hole ending at the fold of the tape tongue and beginning at the cut end of the tongue.

An important object is to provide for conservation of tape stock and yet obtain code perforations of such length and of such letter and word spacing as not to in any manner reduce the impulse efficiency of the sending apparatus in or on which the tape may be employed forcode purposes.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objects and advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction, combination and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the description of the herewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, spirit and principle of the invention as it is more directly claimed hereinbelow. al use of the apparatus of this disclosure in any other art than that herein set forth is deemed to be within the adaptation of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with the punch in the position of rest and free of the tape, and

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 isa perspective of the detached punchthroat tape bed.

It is understood that the function-' Los Angeles, Calif.

1,1935, Serial No. 4,497

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view showing the step of folding the punched tape tongue.

Figure 5 is a plan of a piece of the punched tape showing the unit value of the dot, the dash and the space blank between words.

The main frame structure includes spaced side plates 2 and 3 having at one end bearings 4 with a spindle 5 for the ready application of a roll of blank, code tape T in which are to be punched groups of holes permitting electric contact in telegraphic code senders (not here concerned). Figure 5 illustrates the punched tape with the form of punched holes produced in the machine here shown.

To send a dash signal this tape is punched to form a long aperture D, and to send a dot signal it is punched to form a short aperture 0. Groups of such holes forming a code word are spaced by blank tape shown at the zone S. The machine includes means, later described, to advance the tape a step equal to the space zone S, between word groups of holes D-O, and to advance the tape a step for a dash hole which step is equal in length to the length of the space zone S. Such zone is here considered as the unit measure of tape feed. The tape punching means includes a device, later described, which will cut a tongue G, Fig. 4, which has a length of about threequarters of a step unit, thus leaving a tie or web W at the end of the dash hole D, Fig. 5. Now, for convenience, the dot zone Z is about half as long as the zones for a dash D or space S, individually; or, in other words is half a step unit. The'dot hole 0 is about half the length of its zone Z.

As a result of this measure of dot and dash zones the long tongue out to make a dash hole will, in operation of the machine, be folded bacln under the advancing tape (note the left end of the tape, Fig. 1) and cover the leading end of the next hole punched in the tape. In the method here disclosed of preparing the code tape this covering and undesired part of the tongue will be cut off by'the punch means to leave the affected hole entirely clear for signal transmission. Thus is produced a minimum dot hole and tie web W and a suiiiciently long dash hole to characterize the code sign.

The tape T passes from the roll to guide rollers 6-1 journaled between the frame plates and thence to the top channel 55 of a die or bed plate 8 suitably secured between the frame plates 2-3. This bed has a central, elongated die throat 8 pointed at one end 8 and square across at the other or root end 8.

Cooperative with the bed and closely matching its pointed end and parallel sides throat 8 there is pivoted on a trunnion or shaft 3, across the channel of the bed 8, a segmental punch or cutter is beneath which the tape moves along the bed and over the die throat. In order to facilitate the clean cutting of the back-folded part of a tongue G, as above described, the leading end of the chordal edge it of the cutter is providedwith a forwardly extending incising nib lil which, with the rim of the, segmental punch IE5, is of angular contour matching the pointed end of the die throat.

Means are provided to utilize the single punch it for lacerating the tape to form either long or short tongues and, as a corollary, the dash signal hole D or the dot signal hole 0. As h re depicted, the punch is provided withlateral' lugs ll--i?i, above its pivot 5, respectively drawn back against manual keys iii-45 by a spring which allows thepunch to be downwardly motivated by either of itskeys l3-l d, selectively, by the operator of the-machine.

.Thekeys have a common axis of motion it and have respective pull-back springs il'--I8 normally holding the levers against a back-stop is. fli'he length'of key stroke determines the length of the tongue and hole made in the tape by punch actionand to determine such stroke the keys moveagainst'diiierential stops, 23 for the 'dot key and. 2! for the dash key (as designated in Fig. 2). Therefore when the dash leverorekey i3 is depressed it presses on its lug l! and drives the punch down through the-tape-on thebed 8-and bends down the out tongue G toapositionin front-of the breast 8 atthe point end of the'die throat a to make a ring As soon as operative pressure is removed from the depressed :key, '.it:and the punch are both instantly retracted by therelative springs (51-43 and i5).

Means are provided to automatically advance the tapefollowing, punch action a degree inaccordance with the tape unit: measure of a dot or a'dash. .While the, feed means is of automatic .zoharacterits' feeding function is determined by the stroke of Lthepunch member and, therefore,

. inithepresent disclosure the feed means is directly controlled by the punch.

l The feed :means includes a feed cylinder 22 iournaled in the .main frame in'a position to receive the punched parts of the tape which is p essed' to the cylinder by a pressure or creasing roller-.23 journaled parallel to the cylinder and coactivewith it ,toadvance the tapeand having pthefurtherutilitybf firmly creasing the fold of ithentongue coming from the .breast of the die bed, Fig. 4.

To the cylinder 22 is fixed a ratchet disc 2 whose teeth are engaged by a feeder pawl 25 suitably movably guided in the main frame parts and having. a spring 26 constantly drawing the pawl tooth 25* against the near face of the disc'zfi 'ior operative relation. 'The pawl stem projects been actuated by theaoperator. A stop latch prevents a reverse turn of the ratchet. disc. 24

- 22 to correspondingly advance the tape.

under pressure of the pawl tooth 25 as it is forced down during punch action.

Upon completion of t e punching step as soon as the operator releases the efiective key 13 or M a main spring 29 attached to the feed pawl 5 is then free to automatically pull up the pawl and to turn the feed cylinder, through the ratchet device, and feed the tape along the die bed an amount according to the number of ratchet teeth passed on the, pick-up or down stroke of the 10 pawl A two-tcoth pick-up will advance the tape a full dash or space unit, as above defined, while a one-tooth pick-up will advance the tape only a-half unit or dot zone length. 15

In code transmission a space or noticeable period of time follows each word group in the code and for this reason means are here provided to characterize this space on the tape after each full code signal, whether a single dot, or a 20 single dash, or any combination thereof. This is accomplished by. means working on the 'feed means independently of thepunch'means per so.

As here shown .thespace means includes a finger bar 3 across the key end of the-machinejs and having-side levers3l-32 which may hang on the it of the punch keys. Suitable connection as a pin and slot device 33 is provided between the lever 31 and the. feed pawl'ilfi and when the space bar is depressed its full strokerto the pawl is caused to pick up two ratchet teeth. On release of the space bar by the operator the main spring 29 instantly acts to pull up the feed pawl and effect a full unit turn of the cylinder A suit- 35 able stop 34 limits the space bar stroke and thereby the feed pawl motion.

The spring .26: is-given the dual. function of drawing both the pawl 25 and theflatchZB to ei'fective positions on the ratchet disc.

It is believed that the operation of the machine is obvious from the above detail d description of the. parts and their actions.

1 What is claimed is:

l. A code tape punch having, in combinationans a tape bed, having a punch thatover which a tape passes, means to feed the tape in steps of predetermined length, and a punch member. operative to punch apertures of difierent length in the tape passing over the throat and separate .-5() key means for moving the punch in'differential strokes.

2. A code tape punching machine, having in combination, a tape bed with a punch throat, a punch member complementary to the bed throat, .55 and means for moving said punch in selective strokes of different length to punch different sizes of holes in the tape passing over the bed.

3. A. code tape punching machine, having in combination, a tape bed with a punch throat,-

' means to feed tape over .the bed, a punch member for punching the tape on the bed; said member having means to actuate the feed means and key means to move the said member in strokes of different length.

4. A code tape punching machine, having in combination, a tape bed, a punch member cooperative wtih the bed to punch the tape thereon, feed means controlled by the said member to ei fect advance of the tape, and selective means 7 to move the said member in punch steps of diiferent length for making punch holes, in the tape, of different length.

' 5. A code 'tape punching-machine, having in combination, a tape bed, a punch member c0 operative therewith for tape punching, feed means to advance the tape, a feed control device connected to the said member and a feed control device independent of said member, and selective means to move the punch member in punching steps of difierent length.

6. A code tape punching machine, having in combination, a tape bed and means to progressively feed tape along the bed, and means selectively operative to actuate the feed means for advancing the tape in steps of difierent length; said means including a single punch member cooperative with the bed to make cuts in the tape of different length.

'7. A code tape punching machine, having in combination, a tape bed and means to feed tape along the bed, means selectively operative to actuate the feed means for advancing the tape in steps of different length and including a single punch member cooperative with the bed to make cuts in the tape of different length, and selective means independent of the punch means to actuate the feed means to advance the tape in steps of uniform length.

8. A code tape punching machine including a tape bed and tape feeding means, and a punch cooperative with the bed to form a tongue in the tape and controlling the length of the tape feed steps of the feed means.

9. A code tape punching machine including a tape bed and tape feeding means, a punch cooperative with the bed to form a tongue in the tape and controlling action of the feed means, and selective manual keys to motivate the punch in strokes of difierent length and thereby determine the length of the feed steps of the feed means.

10. A code tape punching machine including a tape bed and tape feeding means, a punch cooperative with the bed to form tape tongues which are folded back by the bed as the tape advances to form clear punch holes, and means to motivate the punch and vary the length of the out tongues and the punched holes incident thereto in the tape.

11. A code tape punching machine including a tape bedand a punch cooperative therewith to punch tongues from the tape, feed means to advance the tape and cause the tongues to be folded back on the tape, and punch operating means to control and vary the length of the punched tongues by action on and of the punch; said operating means moving the punch in strokes of different length and the punch having an actuator for the feed means.

12. A code tape punching machine including a tape bed, a punch cooperative with the bed to vcising nib and being pivoted on its arc axis.

14. A code tape perforator including a pivoted punch member, and selective keys for actuating the punch for diiierential strokes to out different length tape holes.

15. A code tape perforator including a pivoted punch member, selective keys for actuating the punch for differential cutting strokes, means to feed the tape after punch action, and a die bed cooperating with the punch and operative to fold the tape cutting back of the tape strip as it is advanced.

16. A tape bed, means to feed tape along the bed, a tape punch cooperative with the bed to cut tongues in the bed, keys to move the punch in cutting actions of different length and through the punch predetermine the feed action of'the feed means, and an independent feed control for the feed means.

17. A tape bed, means to feed tape along the bed, punch means to cut dot and dash code holes in the tape, dot and dash keys to operate the punch means, and means actuated differentially concurrently with key action on the punch means to fix the length of the tape feed by said feed means, and space key means for acting on the feed means to'advance the tape to space code signals along the tape.

18. A tape bed, means to feed tape along the bed, punch means to cut dot and dash code holes in the tape by depressing tongues therefrom, dot and dash keys to operate the punch means, means to determine the key stroke and so fix the length of the holes and through the punch the action of the feed means, and a space key for acting on the feed means to cause tape advance thereby for spacing code signals along the tape.

19. A tape bed and a punch cooperative to cut and depress tongues along the tape to make code holes therein, keys for effecting action of the punch to make long or short tongue holes, means to advance the tape along the bed, the latter acting to fold back the depressed tape tongues, and means to crease the bend of the folded tongue; said punch operative to cut off a part of the tongue when the same overlaps an area of the tape which is in cutting position at the punch.

LESTER D. WALDEN.

CERTIFICATE 0r CGRRECTION.

Patent N0. 1,998,946. April 23, 1935.

LESTER 1). WALDEN.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the ebcve numbered patent requiring correction as fellows: Page 2, second column, line 46, claim E, for "that" read throat; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform te the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of June, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Gommissioner ct Patents. 

